Payton`s Career Ends Where It Began--tops In His Class

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CHICAGO -- It was a sudden and shocking end to a long and brilliant career. But Walter Payton handled the heartbreak the same way he handled himself for 13 years in the NFL.

With style, class and a sense of humor.

After the Chicago Bears` 21-17 loss to Washington Sunday -- a defeat that brings to a close one of the most productive careers in NFL history -- an army of reporters gathered around a silent corner in the Chicago locker room to record Payton`s emotions.

But Payton dressed with his back to the writers, giving no indication of his feelings. Was he holding back the tears? Was he crying? Was he too emotional to speak?

Finally, Payton turned around. There were no tears. Instead, there was a smile on his face and a bottle of spray cologne in his hand. He then proceeded to spray the large group of reporters.

``It`s called Obsession. I hope everyone likes it,`` he said.

Payton laughed. At a time when laughing had to be difficult.

Only moments before, Payton was on Soldier Field, the ball in his hands with time rapidly running down on the Bears and his career.

Less than a minute remained. It was fourth-and-8 from the Chicago 36. Quarterback Jim McMahon is flushed from the pocket. At the last second, he drops the ball off to Payton, who now has his eye on two things -- the first- down marker and the sideline.

``It was a tough situation. I had to get a first down and I had to stop the clock,`` Payton said.

He ran as hard and as fast as he could. But Washington defensive back Barry Wilburn raced toward Payton and knocked him out of bounds a yard short of the first down.

Just like that, it was over for Payton and the Bears.

The final trek from the field to the locker room was a sad journey for Payton, the NFL`s all-time leading rusher.

``I knew that the end was going to come some day soon. If not today, then next week or in the Super Bowl,`` Payton, 33, said. ``I guess it really hasn`t sunk in yet. I guess it will next week when I realize I won`t be going to practice anymore, or playing for this team anymore.

``My teammates are great, in defeat and victory. God has been very good to me. I`ve truly been blessed.``

Payton, who lost his starting tailback job to second-year man Neal Anderson during the regular season, actually went out on top Sunday.

With Anderson out with an injury, Payton was the main man in the Bears` backfield again, running with the instincts and aggressiveness that were his trademarks.

He was the Walter Payton that everyone recognizes. He gained 85 yards on 18 carries and helped the Bears build a 14-0 lead in the first half.

Although he played so well, Payton said he has no second thoughts about quitting.

``In the last 13 years, there have been a lot good moments and a lot of bad moments,`` Payton said. ``Overall, playing has been a lot of fun. The hard part about leaving is that the game is still fun to me.

``I thank the Bears for giving me the opportunity to display my talent. I`m very grateful for all that they`ve done for me. But now it`s time to move on.``

Payton smiled, picked up his gym bag and walked out of frigid Soldier Field for the last time as a player.

``We`re going to miss him, as a player and a person,`` McMahon said. ``He is the Chicago Bears.``